Follow our live chat as Times columnists Mary McNamara and Glenn Whipp break down the big winners, best performances, most memorable moments and more from the 2026 Oscars.
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5:53 p.m. It was pretty astonishing to see so many stars of Reiner’s films gather in tribute to him and Michelle Singer. Reiner never won an Oscar, which just goes to show you don’t need the statue to become a legend. But what’s with the piano playing all through Barbra Steisand’s tribute to Robert Redford? — M.M.
5:44 p.m. Billy Crystal talking about Rob Reiner — I am laugh-crying already. — M.M.
5:36 p.m. And Ryan Coogler wins original screenplay for “Sinners” so, mercifully, we well not be facing a “most nominations ever with no wins” situation. Way bigger audience reaction to Coogler’s win than Anderson’s. Does that spell out anything in the predictive tea leaves? Also, loved that he apologized to his kids for being away so much — he definitely saw “Sentimental Value”! — M.M.
From talking to him over the years, he just loves being a dad. One time I started telling him about my kids going off to college and he was like, “Stop. I don’t want to think about it.” — G.W.
Ryan Coogler wins the Oscar for original screenplay for “Sinners.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:31 p.m. Here comes the first win of the night for “Sinners” — original screenplay. But first, Paul Thomas Anderson’s first win of the night, for adapted screenplay. — G.W.
OK, OK, screenplays. Paying attention. Not that I need to watch with Glenn joysticking the whole evening. Though even I knew that “One Battle After Another” would win for adapted. — M.M.
Love the big exhale from PTA as he left the stage. His first Oscar! And it won’t be the last he wins tonight! — G.W.
5:26 p.m. Conan is coming for “new Hollywood,” first with the phone-screen editing and now taking on demands that films repeat key plot points for a distracted audience with “Casablanca for Dummies.” World War II — “that’s the Hitler one, right?” I will totally watch the “Casablanca” bit at least two more times.” — M.M.
5:21 p.m. “Sean Penn couldn’t be here tonight, or didn’t want to” — Kieran Culkin after announcing the supporting actor winner. — M.M.
Love Kieran Culkin’s shade toward Sean Penn. Also respect Penn staying true to his convictions and staying home. There is an unconfirmed report that Sean Penn is in Europe, possibly Ukraine … which feels like a trip Penn would make on the night of the Oscars. Or maybe going to the Golden Globes earlier this year ruined award shows for him forever. — G.W.
Kieran Culkin presents the Oscar for supporting actor during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:13 p.m. “It’s a tie, everybody calm down.” I almost feels like Kumail got specific instructions re: live-action short. Which is good but also… isn’t no one supposed to know results beforehand? — M.M.
Wait? A tie? Is this a sign that with the new voting rules, where voters had to attest to having seen all the nominees in a category, fewer people voted in the shorts? Like, did two people vote for “The Singers” and two people vote for “Two People Exchanging Saliva”? — G.W.
“Ironic that short films is gong to take twice as long.” Good one. (And, indeed, the “Saliva” people are talking for a super long time. — M.M.
If Conan ever gets tired of hosting, Kumail Nanjiani would be a good next-up. — G.W.
“To retract a microphone on a man?” — attempts were made to cut “Saliva’s” run-over, but even Conan was a bit startled. — M.M.
The cut to Conan when that happened was great. And no disrespect to the two winners in this category, both fine shorts. — G.W.
Kumail Nanjiani announces a tie as he presents the Oscar for live-action short during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
5:05 p.m. And yet it goes to Cassandra Kulukundis for “One Battle After Another.” — M.M.
Oh [bleep]. There goes the suspense for best picture. It’s going to be “One Battle” for sure. — G.W.
Really? — M.M.
I feel like if “Sinners” was going to win best picture, it would have taken this Oscar. I suppose it’s still possible, but not winning this and the wide-open supporting actress category doesn’t bode well. — G.W.
You don’t think she got bonus points for discovering Chase Infiniti? — M.M.
“Sinners” and “One Battle” both have outstanding, deep ensembles. I thought Maisler’s long history of working with every A-list Hollywood director (not to mention casting the Roy family in “Succession”) would give her the edge. She found Miles Caton, basically the equivalent of finding Chase Infiniti. Again, it starting to feel like a “One Battle” sweep. Now if Delroy Lindo wins supporting actor … — G.W.
I know your awards-actuary method is historically successful but sometimes the Oscars get messy and spread things around. So I’m still considering it an open BP race. — M.M.
5:01 p.m. Nice that they’re making the first casting Oscar special with someone from each nominated movie singing the casting director’s praises. — G.W.
“The exquisite invisible architecture you built” —great line from “Marty Supreme’s” Gwyneth Paltrow praising that film’s nominee, Jennifer Venditti. — M.M.
Who did you predict, Glenn? — M.M.
“Sinners” and Francine Maisler. She’s a legend. Would be the perfect choice for the first winner of this Oscar. — G.W.
4:56 p.m. “Frankenstein’s” Oscars for costume design and makeup and hairstyling are very well deserved. — M.M.
I suppose. I would have gone with Ruth E. Carter and “Sinners” for costumes. But she does have two Oscars. — G.W.
4:53 p.m. Anna Wintour for the win. She should co-present every award just to shut down the patter when it gets annoying. — G.W.
Did costume design winner Kate Hawley (“Frankenstein”) just curtsey to Wintour? — M.M.
She’s probably terrified of what she thinks of her outfit! — G.W.
“Thank you, Emily”: Wintour stumping for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” as she and Anne Hathaway continue with the makeup and hairstyling prize. — M.M.
My interest in seeing that movie just went up a couple of notches. — G.W.
Anna Wintour and Anne Hathaway present during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
4:50 p.m. That iPhone bit felt a little too real to be funny. — G.W.
4:42 p.m. The Oscars recreating the best scene in a movie this year? I’m here for it. Gonna feel a little awkward if “Sinners” doesn’t win, though. — G.W.
Seriously. Before the Actor Awards, I was afraid that “Sinners’” April premiere would mean people would forget how amazing it was. But it would seem they have not. (And Misty Copeland making a climactic appearance here plays even stronger after brouhaha over Chalamet’s comments about opera and ballet, especially given that Chalamet’s in the front row.) — M.M.
Miles Caton, center, performs “I Lied to You” from “Sinners” during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
4:38 p.m. Well … the animated short category makes another year of not getting a perfect predictions score. I did say “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” could win haha… — G.W.
4:33 p.m. Now there’s a surprise — not. “KPop Demon Hunters” wins animated feature. I know you knew that one, Glenn. — M.M.
It is the movie that kept all the kids entertained at our New Year’s Eve party while the grown-ups ate and drank. Thank you “KPop Demon Hunters”! — G.W.
“Mom, this is for you” — the reason for all awards shows ever. — M.M.
I’m glad she got to thank her mom after nearly being played off! — G.W.
4:31 p.m. The dig at the Oscars’ move to YouTube with the appearance of random loud and obnoxious ads was right on — though I will watch any ad that stars Jane Lynch. — M.M.
Amy Madigan accepts the supporting actress Oscar for “Weapons.”
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
4:22 p.m. Amy Madigan win supporting actress, the night’s first prize — I am so happy!! Would have been terrible if her character opened the Oscars and she lost. And oh, that laugh! — M.M.
Yeessssssssssss! (And not just because I predicted Amy Madigan.) — G.W.
First acceptance speech to reference leg shaving? Also, Madigan defends the “rattling off” of names. “They’re the people who helped me get here.” — M.M.
What a lovely speech. And funny! Love the leg-shaving reference. Ed Harris and Amy Madigan are one of the town’s most enduring couples. Madigan’s point about the “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” actors embracing her was touching too. She was out there on her own, the only nominee from “Weapons.” Great start to the evening! — G.W.
4:20 p.m. I don’t know who is going to win this supporting actress Oscar! — G.W.
What? You always know everything! I feel so… unsafe! — M.M.
4:18 p.m. Very moving testament to optimism of global filmmaking, as represented here: Movies are made in the hopes that things around the world will get better. — M.M.
A monologue so good that I could even tolerate Josh Groban. — G.W.
Yeah, I was typing through that part so it didn’t bother me. — M.M.
4:14 p.m. “First time since 2012 no British actors nominated in best actor or actress. British spokesman: ‘Well, at least we arrest our pedophiles.’” Massive applause. — M.M.
That and the nod to L.A.’s Spanish-language culture really landed. — G.W.
4:09 p.m. First Chalamet opera and ballet joke: “They’re just mad you left out jazz.” “Things could get political; there’s an alternate Oscars hosted by Kid Rock.” And a Ted Sarandos joke. I swear they are reading our comments, Glenn! — M.M.
Is Sean Penn there? No on-camera reaction shot. Also, the best picture race is so close this year I was trying to determine which movie got the loudest applause, “Sinners” or “One Battle After Another.” — G.W.
Conan O’Brien during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
4:06 p.m. “I can’t believe I learned Norwegian for this”: High point of Conan O’Brien racing through scenes from best picture nominees as Amy Madigan’s character in “Weapons” to open the show. — M.M.
I have fond memories of Billy Crystal’s Oscar openers, but that was the best. I can’t stop laughing. Almost sad it had to end. — G.W.
3:51 p.m. The time is throwing me too, especially so close to the daylight savings change-up. I keep thinking about Maggie Smith’s great line in “California Suite”: “No woman can be expected to look good at 4 p.m. except Tatum O’Neal” — who was a child at the time. Which is just another way of me saying “I miss Maggie Smith.” — M.M.
Maggie Smith would be my dream red-carpet interviewer. It’s hot! We need a little frostiness! “So, Mr. Chalamet … have you brought your opera glasses to the show?” — G.W.
3:46 p.m. Quick question, Glenn. Will this be the hottest Oscars ever? As in, literally. Today has been a bit cooler than last few days, and next few days, but still. My weather app just said 85 degrees in Hollywood, which is pretty hot for March. No one seems to be visibly sweating, probably because most of red carpet is covered. And I guess it’s better than rain. Still I feel for those in long sleeves and/or tons of sequins. — M.M.
It feels like September Emmy weather, Mary! And I’m still getting used to this new start time. There’s too much daylight for the Oscars to be starting in 10 minutes. — G.W.
3:40 p.m. Here we are again at the Oscars, Mary, once again an hour earlier and with more questions than usual heading into the ceremony. Who is going to win the lead actor Oscar? Timothée Chalamet? Michael B. Jordan? Leonardo DiCaprio? I’ve misread this category so thoroughly this year they could open the envelope, say the name of an actor not even nominated and I would think, “Yes! Of course!” Will Sean Penn win his third Oscar? Will Paul Thomas Anderson have his first three Oscars by the end of the evening? Will the academy troll Chalamet (and the rest of us) with an interpretative dance performance? What’s on your mind as we prepare to watch this year’s show? — G.W.
Glenn! Is this the man normally so clear and confident about his well-calculated predictions that I, with my more emotion-based hopes, often want to scream? Already the show is more interesting and it hasn’t even started! I have been rooting for “Sinners” since I saw it almost a year ago — vampires haven’t been used with such spot-on metaphoric resonance since Bram Stoker wrote “Dracula.” And as I have said before, Michael B. Jordan gives two fine, powerful performances to his fellow nominees’ one. I imagine there will be a ballet/opera joke or two, though that brouhaha occurred after voting closed so if Chalamet does not win, no hate should be directed at the Royal Opera company. I am mostly interested in if/how current events, including the war in Iran and the protests against ICE, are mentioned in any way. Especially given the politico-cultural themes of some of the top nominees. — M.M.
If Sean Penn and Amy Madigan, noted pot-stirrers, win Oscars, as I think they might, and don’t say anything about current events, then can safely say we’ve entered peak disconnect between what’s happening in the world and what’s taking place inside the privileged space of awards shows. Many (most?) viewers probably wouldn’t have a problem with that sort of disengagement. People booed Michael Moore at the 2003 Oscars when he spoke out against the war in Iraq. Some cheered him on. It takes guts to get up on that big stage and speak out. I’m also interested to see if that happens tonight. — G.W.
True, and no doubt most folks at Oscars are more concerned with state of industry, particularly what David Ellison’s takeover of Warner Bros. will mean for future of moviemaking. Especially given the fact that, between “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another,” Warner Bros. will be cleaning up. Conan O’Brien is a jocular, wise-cracky host who will likely eschew controversy but he may not be able to resist taking a jab at the messy battle for the studio, which saw Netflix fold. Ted Sarandos has been known to take a joke; we may find out if Ellison can. In any case, I’m glad to see Conan back — he brings a great side-eye energy to the proceedings and seems perfectly at home on that big, sumptuously dressed stage, which is half the battle. — M.M.